17.1.18

N50million fraud: Two on trial for ‘cloning Ambode’s phone line’

TRIAL opened at a Lagos High Court yesterday of two persons, who allegedly attempted to defraud the government of N50 million by cloning Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s phone line.

Rilwanu Jamiu and Balogun Oyewole were arraigned before Justice Sedoten Ogunsanya on a three-count of possession of fraudulent document, impersonation and attempt to commit felony.

The Accountant-General, Mrs Abimbola Shukurat Umar, led in evidence by the Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice Adeniji Kazeem, said she received a text message – purportedly sent from Governor Ambode – from the suspects on February 10, 2016, directing her to transfer N50 million to a designated Keystone Bank account.

She said she found the message suspicious and highly irregular to official accounting protocol.

This, the witness said, prompted her to bring the message to the attention of the governor, who distanced himself from it and ordered that the matter be investigated.

The investigation, conducted by the Department of State Security, led to the arrest of the defendants.

The prosecution also called Mr Wale Odu, Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), Lagos State Command, as a witness.

Odu confirmed that the investigation leading to the defendants’ was conducted by DSS.

According to him, the investigation revealed that Oyewole is one of the directors and shareholders of a firm, Clayder Limited to whose Keystone Bank account, the N50 million would have been paid.

The case continues on February 14. The defendants will remain in Kirikiri Prison till then.